Home / Quotes / Quote by Hilary Mantel

Quote by Hilary Mantel

“I would have been a disaster as a career politician. I would never have toed a party line.”

Quote by Hilary Mantel

Author

British author Hilary Mantel is renowned for her historical novels, particularly for her Thomas Cromwell series, which has earned her international acclaim. Mantel's works are celebrated for their profound insights and literary achievements. more

You May Also Like

“I'm a very organised and rational and linear thinker and you have to stop all that to write a novel.”

Writing Novel Rational Thinker Linear Organised

Author:Hilary Mantel

“If you have a good story idea, don't assume it must form a prose narrative. It may work better as a play, a screenplay or a poem. Be flexible.”

Ifs May Ideas Play Stories Form Assuming Narrative Prose Flexible Good Story Screenplays

Author:Hilary Mantel

“Insights don't usually arrive at my desk, but go into notebooks when I'm on the move. Or half-asleep.”

Moving Half Insight Desks Notebook

Author:Hilary Mantel

“Like a historian, I interpret, select, discard, shape, simplify. Unlike a historian, I make up people's thoughts.”

People Shapes Historian Select Simplify

Author:Hilary Mantel

“Like every writer, I'm drawn by unlikely juxtapositions, precisely-dated and once-only collisions between people from different worlds.”

People World Different Unlikely Different Worlds Collision Juxtaposition

Author:Hilary Mantel

“Much historical fiction that centers on real people has always been deficient in information, lacking in craft and empty in affect.”

People Real Fiction Information Empty Historical Crafts Historical Fiction Lacking

Author:Hilary Mantel

“'Show up at the desk' is one of the first rules of writing, but for 'Wolf Hall' I was about 30 years late.”

Writing Years Firsts Shows Late Halls Desks

Author:Hilary Mantel

“The heart of the jealous knows the best and most satisfying love, that of the other's bed, where the rival perfects the lover's imperfections.”

Knows Heart Lovers Bed Jealous Imperfection Satisfying Rivals Jealousy Envy Jealousy And Envy Love Jealousy Love And Jealousy Friend Jealousy Jealous Love

Book:Nightwood

Source: Nightwood

“Wolf Hall attempts to duplicate not the historian's chronology but the way memory works: in leaps, loops, flashes.”

Way Memories Halls Leap Historian Flash Loops Duplicate Chronology

Author:Hilary Mantel

“If you get stuck, get away from your desk. Take a walk, take a bath, go to sleep, make a pie, draw, listen to music, meditate, exercise; whatever you do, don't just stick there scowling at the problem. But don't make telephone calls or go to a party; if you do, other people's words will pour in where your lost words should be.”

People Ifs Should Problem Lost Sleep Walks Party Exercise Draws Sticks Stuck Get Away Pie Desks Telephones Listening To Music Baths Going To Sleep Writer's Block

Author:Hilary Mantel